My Teaching Experience

     As I look back on the teaching experience that I had with Ms. Sharon McGinley's class last November 28 , it was such a wonderful experienced that I am really convinced that teaching is my passion. There were a lot of preparations that I have done for this class presentation regarding chemotherapy. Revisions upon revisions I have done with my lesson plan and I highly appreciate Dr. Ava Miller for all her help and insights as I journey in this class. How to do a powerpoint presentation was also one of the biggest skills that I developed in this class. It was a challenge that I was able to overcome and it was fun learning how to do it. Looking for an available class was another challenge. I sent e-mails to five professors and three responded for their availability and the other two declined because their class was already finished. I was so fortunate to be accommodated by Ms. McGinley. She was so accommodating and really did her best to assist me in all possible way. I salute her for that. My class was at DistanceEd Room 2.5 and it will be an hour class from 0800 - 0900am. Since my class was scheduled early I decided to look for the room ahead of time. I went to UTB four days prior to my scheduled date. On the day of my presentation, I went early so allow me to have enough time to set my projector and laptop but what was so funny was that when I finally reached the classroom, Ms. McGinley told me that it is still locked and that we need to moved to another room. Unfortunately the projector did not worked in that new room so I need to present my lesson through my laptop alone but I think it did work for my benefit because now the students' attention were focused on me and not on the projector. There was a sit-in student who is not officially a part of the class who wanted to listen to the presentation. He did have alot of questions as we do our discussions and again I took it as a blessing because my students become more attentive and interested thus exchange of ideas flowed in the classroom. The hour passed so fast that we did not even realized that it was almost time. Overall, the presentation went so well that I really did enjoyed my class. Dr. Miller and Ms. McGinley were also very pleased of what conspired. Encouraging positive reinforcements and comments were given by both professors and by the class. As I wrapped-up on my presentation I felt so happy to have this great audience in front of me who have helped me achieved a dream, and that is to be a teacher even only for awhile. And as I leave the campus I am definite to myself that someday I will be back to officially become a part of this great profession.

My Course Evaluation Plan

     Being able to delivery an assigned lesson plan is exciting and gives an adrenalin rush, but as I go through this course I realized that learning does not merely mean being able to hear and share new information but also being able to retain what was taught in the process. As a future educator I have learned through this class that a good learning process needs to be evaluated to know if the teaching was effective and thought provoking. Learning occurs when the students have a deeper understanding of the subject thought and it can only be validated if an evaluation is done. As I prepare to deliver my lesson plan in the next couple of weeks I am also looking forward to the point where my student's learning will be evaluated. I hope to be able to deliver my lesson in an effective and competent way. Through class evaluation may I be able to deliver a class discussion that will allow my students to learn more than what they expect.

Distance Learning

     Being able to participate in distance learning education is very challenging and at the same time so fulfilling. This form of education is very new to me as a student because back then when I was still in school, computers and advance information technologies only plays minimal role in teaching process. Information are disseminated through lectures in a classroom settings. Daily attendance in school is a must and assignments were being done in a timely manner. Although I agree that distance education is an advance form of education that offers great convience specially with time issues it also thus comes with major disadvantages. What I miss with classroom learning is the chance to develop friendship with my classmates and visually seeing  individual reactions to certain topics. Physically hearing laughter and chit-chatting voices in the classroom makes me feel connected with my classmates and professor. But time is changing and education process is evolving with the time. Advancement in technology is one of this changes. I believe that change for the better should never be resisted but rather be welcome with the anticipation for improvement of the education system to better have an in-depth understanding of nursing education as a science and as an art.

My Teaching Plan

     To become a nurse educator is a dream for me, a dream that I am pursuing to fulfill, that is why I am taking my MSN Education Program. I intend to learn from this class the different models and strategies of teaching I can use to become a effective and efficient educator. My philosophy as an educator is to teach with a heart. I hope that through me, my future students will be able to care for their patients with compassion and dignity. For my students not only to be knowledgeable of evidence-based practices but also to be able to apply these practices skillfully. As an educator, I hope to become a facilitator, an advocate and a well adept resource person for my students, and for me to be able to do that self empowerment is vital.
     Well my dear classmates, let's all work together to uplift each other and to make this new semester a wonderful experience for each and everyone. I'm looking forward to learn from and with you the different models and strategies of teaching so that we can all become the next generation of educators that will empower new breeds of nursing students. God bless us all with our endeavours.

My Semester Experience

     As this semester is almost about to be over, I can't help but look back on that night I heard my colleague asked " Is this all what nursing can offer?", that was the moment I looked in the mirror and asked the same question for myself. At first, when I decided to pursue my MSN I taught I can't make it, I can't finish this semester for I was too overwhelmed by online education for it was totally new to me but with the help of my professors and of my classmates I was encouraged to continue pressing on. This semester had taught me a lot not only academically but most specially the experiences had made me realized of who I am and of what I am capable of. It made me more confident about myself and made me more whole as an individual. I know that this is just a beginning of great endeavours for me. I am looking forward for the next semester where I strongly believe, more doors of learning opportunities awaits me and  my dear classmates.
     This Reflective Journal was a great tool for me, for it gave me the arena where I can express myself, my adventures, my frustrations and fears, and my triumphs and success. It also served as my window where I can take a look of what my classmates' experiences as well. The Reflective Journals served as my link with my classmates whom although I haven't had the chance to know and meet face to face, gave me the chance to at least know them through their works, comments, and points of view to all the topics that were discussed. I hope and pray to see you all again next semester as God permits.

My Role...." I want to teach with a heart".

      I believe that I am  a teacher by heart. There's always been a part of me that says " I want to someday teach and be a part of shaping someone's life". Now that I am pursuing that dream by first making sure that I will be equipt with the knowledge and skills that I will be needing when I step into that arena called teaching, I am continually learning the importance of having in me the heart to teach. The very essence of education. As I go through with this MSN program of mine, the more I understand that as a future nurse educator I will have the chance to impart to my students the very core principle of nursing care and that is to care with love and compassion. That, the community we serve are made up of human beings that although they will differ in their level of needs, but that no matter how simple nor how complex their needs might be, all of them will need loving and compassionate care. So as I prepare myself, I also woud want to be an educator who is well informed of the latest technologies and research-based studies that will help me be a more realiable advocate, guide, facilitator, mentor, a resource person  to my students. I believe I can attain this goal by making sure that I will continually have my personal and professional growth at par with the needs of time. I strongly believe that for me to be successful in this endevour I need to always remind myself that I myself is also a student that needs to learn and re-learn things.

My Philosophy of Nursing Education

     As I reflect on this past assignment of formulating my philosophy of education it took me awhile to finished the subject matter, for being a minority I can't help but put myself  back in the school premise I had back home. I found this assignment so mind provoking in a sense that I can't help but compare. As far as I can remember, schooling for me at that time revolves around books, papers, libraries and memorization ( tons of memorization). I remember asking myself then if this is all what learning is all about. But now I realized that it was the very basic fundation of what and who I am now. I now have a clearer understanding of how important it is to always start from the basics for these will direct the path you are going to take. Now that I am planning to become a teacher someday, I now have a better understanding of how I can be an effective and efficient student advocate. I will still use books, papers, libraries and yes, tons of memorizations to educate my students but this time I will make sure to practice reflective thinking more so that my students will use our classroom as their avenue of expressing their ideas. I want my students to learn from me but I would also want to learn from my students. That is what kind of a teacher I want to be.